Grant Ward is seeking re-election to Langley Township council. He says he has been “honoured and proud to serve Langley Township as a dedicated public servant for the past 12 years” and he wants to continue that service.
“What better way than to serve the Township as a councillor, striving to keep it vibrant, healthy and the respected municipality that it presently is?
“I have exercised strong leadership and made informed decisions based on due diligence, best practices, and common sense, and by listening to our citizens, the taxpayers, expert advice of our staff, and consultants. This includes approving budgets and priorities where a prudent, frugal, and responsible team approach was important and necessary,” Ward says.
“As public servants, we need to fiscally manage our tax dollars, ensuring that smart and sustainable development along with transportation and economic development takes place, while recognizing the protective service levels (fire and police) are in concert with our prevailing population growth of 2.5 to three per cent in our six urban communities and overall agricultural areas.
“Decisions have to be made for all of the community and although many decisions are tough and not favoured by some, I am always prepared to defend those decisions, ensuring the good quality of life continues for our citizens that I have come to know and expect.”
Some of the the decisions he has supported include: a new Silver LEED Municipal Facility, updating the Township’s overall Official Community Plans, the build-out of McLeod Athletic Park and the grandstand, and building new fire halls and the subsequent hiring of full-time firefighters. Another decision was approving the Langley Events Centre and its annex at Willoughby Park.
Council is partnering with School District 35 for larger adjoining parks, the durable artificial turf playing grounds, the upgrading of recreational facilities like the LSS lacrosse box, the Aldergrove Athletic Park artificial turf, new ball fields and a youth bike park. These recreational facilities hosted the 2010 BC Summer Games, the BC Special Olympics, the Royal Canadian Legion National Youth Championships, the BC Seniors Games and major high school, university and professional competitions.
Ward has been involved in many community initiatives since moving to Murrayville almost 43 years ago, first arriving as a RCMP officer. He is experienced in making tough decisions after doing the research and taking issues seriously. He was a coach in Langley Minor Hockey, a charter member of the Langley Voluntary Sports Association building the Ron Ralph Fields, an initiative which led to the building and expansion of McLeod Athletic Park, and has volunteered in many other capacities.
He served 25 years on the International Peace Arch Association, with four years as president. He was also the founding chair of the Langley Canada Day Celebrations, serving as chair for five years of the ten years he was involved.
He has volunteered with Operation Red Nose, and for the successful BC Summer Games in 2010. He is a charter member of the Langley First Capital Chorus and was president for a number of years. As a pilot and aircraft owner, he served as president on the former Langley Aviation Council at Langley Regional Airport.
He is council’s representative on the Board of Variance, and is co-chair of the Community Safety and Transportation Committee. He is a two-term director on the Fraser Valley Regional Library Board, and served two years as FVRL chair. In 2012, he was awarded the B.C. Libraries Super Trustee of the Year.
He has been awarded the RCMP Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
He and his wife Vera are retired from their Langley commercial printing business of 30 years.
He says he still has the passion, energy and time to stay busy.
He can be contacted at grant-ward@telus.net.